Fire Show on Phi Phi Island
It's only when the sky darkens that the beaches of Phi Phi light up with jets of fire tamed by young locals. Many bars offer this spectacle, which gets more spectacular as the hours go by.
As night falls, many beach bars offer vacationers a shot of adrenaline. Young men from Phi Phi skillfully juggle fire to the deafening sound of the latest bangers. Barefoot and topless on the beach, they toss flaming sticks and fireballs into the air, and even enjoy a game of jump rope...on fire, of course.
Vacationers can also try their hand at straddling the burning rope (they are offered a small glass of strong alcohol), but beware of injury; while the exercise may seem simple, the fire jugglers have trained long and hard, as the burn marks on their torsos attest.
Many bars offer fire shows. Our favorite in Loh Dalam Bay is the Slinky Beach Bar, right on the beach. The most popular and also the noisiest. Tables are spread out in an arc around the jugglers, under coconut palms with little cloth lamps fluttering in the wind.
Be careful, though. Sometimes the jugglers "miss" and don't catch the flaming projectile thrown into the air. To avoid it landing in your hair, choose a seat in the 2nd row. It's a real-life experience.
Where?
Many beach bars at the bays of Loh Dalam or Ton Sai, on the way to Long Beach.
Duration?
The time for an early evening drink or to end the night. Around midnight, the jugglers' performances become even more spectacular.
How much does it cost?
Drinks are mandatory. For average prices, see our "What to Drink in Phi Phi" section.
